Nigerian human rights lawyer and advocate, Femi Falana, has accused the President Bola Tinubu government of acting out a script written by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the recent increase in electricity tariffs in the country.

Falana who made the assertion in an interview on a national television programme on Monday, alleged that the decision of the government to increase the electricity tariffs despite the hardship Nigerians are currently going through, was a “direct result of pandering to the dictates of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.”

The fiery lawyer also asserted that by that decision, the government was merely executing a policy imposed by the Bretton Wood institutions, while prioritizing their interests above those of the Nigerian people.

He further argued that the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, is effectively carrying out the script of the IMF and World Bank which have consistently pushed for the removal of all subsidies, including fuel and electricity, as a condition for their support.

“The Honourable Minister of Power is acting the script of the IMF and the World Bank,” Falana said.

“Those two agencies insisted and they continue to insist that the government of Nigeria must remove all subsidies. Fuel subsidy, electricity subsidy and what have you; all social services must be commercialised and priced beyond the reach of the majority of Nigerians.

“So, the government cannot afford to protect the interest of Nigerians where you are implementing the neoliberal policies of the Bretton Wood institutions,” he opined.

The human rights lawyer stated that the government’s capitulation to these international financial institutions has resulted in the implementation of policies that are detrimental to the majority of Nigerians, who are already struggling to make ends meet.

“By pricing essential services like electricity beyond the reach of the average citizen, the government is effectively abandoning its responsibility to protect the interests of its people,” Falana said.

Maria Kayumba, a second-year student at Kapasa Makasa University, has raised concerns over the increasing prevalence of cyberbullying in Zambia despite the enactment of the Cyber Security Act.

Kayumba, who is studying Information and Communications Technology, said that cyberbullying was hindering freedom of expression and media freedoms in the country.

Speaking from Chinsali District in Muchinga Province, Kayumba highlighted that numerous individuals, especially celebrities, face daily harassment online.

Despite the opportunity for people to engage in governance discussions through social media platforms like Facebook and others, many fear the repercussions.

In an interview with Zambia Monitor in Chinsali, Kayumba called on authorities such as the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) to intensify efforts to combat this growing trend.

She noted that while people were increasingly engaging in political discourse, the fear of legal action discouraged critical commentary on government officials.

Addressing media’s coverage of marginalised communities, Kayumba affirmed that journalists collaborate with organizations implementing projects in rural areas.

She argued that media freedom existed in Zambia, as evidenced by the collaborations that shed light on the needs of underserved populations.

However, Kayumba also pointed the harassment of journalists as a significant challenge to media freedom and freedom of association.

She noted that journalists, both in mainstream media and on social media platforms, often live in fear for their safety, which hampers their ability to work effectively.

This story is sponsored content from Zambia Monitor’s Project Aliyense.